The Land at Red Rock Ranch

Red Rock Ranch just north of Van Horn offers escorted hiking and vehicle tours of some of the most spectacular land in Far West Texas.  They have a visitor center on Broadway, the main street in Van Horn, where most of their tours start.  If you're interested, you can contact them for information at: 432-283-7800, 305 E. Broadway in Van Horn.

Evening View of Movie Set in Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch

Just north of Van Horn is the privately owned Red Rock Ranch.  Tours are available and often a trip can be arranged in this magnificent landscape to an old movie set used in the filming of the prequel to Lonesome Dove, "Dead Man's Walk," starring F. Murray Abraham, David Arquette, Keith Carradine and Edward James Olmos.

Enchanting Rocks by Rob Hodges

I know I’ve driven through Van Horn many times. I must have at least stopped for gas at some point. But prior to this summer, it was just a forgettable blip along I-10.

I take that back… it did become a curiosity for me in January 2010 when I interviewed Greg Vanderpool of the band Monahans, which has an expansive, often instrumental sound described by some as “landscape rock.” He mentioned that he often goes to a friend’s ranch in Van Horn to write, and the band actually set up a makeshift studio in a hunting lodge there to do some recordings in 2009.

This summer, I had the opportunity to visit Van Horn for a couple days—and it became crystal clear why Vanderpool finds inspiration in the setting. The town has some hidden gems, and the surrounding mountain ranges and open spaces are sublime. I was fortunate to stay at the historic Hotel El Capitan, designed by notable southwestern architect Henry Trost in 1930.

One evening, I had the pleasure of touring the Red Rock Ranch, which has scenery on par with the great state and national parks of Far West Texas. The private ranch is comprised of more than 17,000 acres of its namesake rocks, which have provided a dramatic backdrop for television and movie sets. During the tour, I saw something from a distance that I had never seen in Texas before—three desert bighorn sheep! It’s a shame more people will not experience this truly special place. Camping, overnight stays, and unguided hikes are not allowed.  On the other hand, that keeps the crowds away, keeps the land pristine, and makes it well worth the effort to visit this unforgettable, off-the-beaten-path ranch.

One morning, I woke early and rode part of the “El Capitan to El Capitan” bike ride with Texas Mountain Trail Region executive director, Beth Nobles. Beth was gracious enough to put me in touch with the local RV park that rents cruiser bikes. Although we didn’t have a lot of time and I was limited by the single-speed machine, we did manage to log about 12 miles along the scenic SH 54 that heads north toward the Guadalupe Mountains. We followed the Beach Mountains, saw Red Rock Ranch from a distance, and caught a quintessential West Texas sunrise. I can’t wait for the day I return with my road bike to discover what else the 55-mile ride has in store.

Rob Hodges is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in such diverse publications as the Houston Chronicle, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Austin Monthly, Edible Austin, South American Explorer, national meetings magazines, and Texas Historical Commission travel guides. Having traveled through about 30 countries on five continents, and about 40 states in the U.S., he can say with authority that Texas is a great place to live. His home is about a mile from the Capitol in Austin, where he lives with wife, Kate, and daughter, Zadie. His work can be seen at robhodges.com

Another View of Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch!

This privately held ranch just north of Van Horn is open to hiking and vehicle tours by appointment.  Call Red Rock Ranch at 1-800-735-6911 for complete information!

Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch

Van Horn's privately held Red Rock Ranch offers guided tours by appointment.  Call for more information, 1-800-735-6911.

Beautiful evening light at Red Rock Ranch

Red Rock Ranch offers guided tours of their majestic mountains north of Van Horn.  We recently took the sunset tour, and were treated to this lovely light at the end of the day.  Below...too small to see...were three big horn sheep!

Another view from Red Rock Ranch

Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch is a spectacular place to enjoy our Texas Mountains! 

Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch

Have you ever just wanted to be in a landscape so big you just HAD to capture it and take it home with you?  Look no further than Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch, where we were last night to see the landscape and watch the sun go down....oh yes, and catch a few pictures while we were at it. 

Thanks to Mark Wolfe, Executive Director of the Texas Historical Commission, for this shot of the Texas Mountain Trail's Executive Director, Beth Nobles, shooting the landscape!

Another spring lovely

As a tonic for this cold winter, we wanted to give you a bit of spring sunshine.  Let's think about March, April and May, and the cactus blossoms coming our way.   Taken at Red Rock Ranch near Van Horn.

All this winter makes us think of spring!

Views of Red Rock Ranch

Red Rock Ranch just north of Van Horn offers tours of their beautiful land.  Their website says, "Just five quick minutes from donwtown Van Horn, Texas, our tours will allow you to see unique geological wonders, vegetation specific only to our area, native animal life and American Indian pictographs and petroglyphs. We are one of largest natural Precambrian sandstone exposures in North Amercia. There are lots of critters on our land which you may be able to see fresh tracks or even spot. The sunsets are more beautiful than you could imagine."

Exploring Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch

Red Rock Ranch, a private ranch north of Van Horn, offers escorted adventures with incredible views.  Check them out here!

Golf with a Mountain View

Sometimes you're richly rewarded when you get off the freeway...one prime example is the spectacular scenery at Van Horn's Mountain View Golf Course, and we mean spectacular scenery! 

The newly renovated and comfortable clubhouse is open to visitors wanting to take a break from the road for a round of golf.  Set on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, birds frequent the course and add to the experience.

While you're in town, consider a day trip to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, or a visit to Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch or the Clark Hotel Museum!

View of Van Horn from the El Capitan Hotel

Van Horn's mountain vistas can be appreciated from the newly restored El Capitan Hotel, the 1930 property which recently reopened for travelers.  The mountain in the center of the photo is Turtleback Mountain, to the right is Six Mile Mountain.  Between those mountains is the Red Rock Ranch, a privately operated ranch open for hiking and driving tours.  The Clark Hotel Museum, to the left of the Dollar General Store, tells the story of the history of Van Horn and Culberson County.  When in operation, the Clark Hotel was a rival property to the El Capitan.

Hiking Tour Headquarters

Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch has a new headquarters on its main street, Broadway. This private ranch offers guided hiking and driving tours of their land. They also will offer views of petroglyphs and pictographs, wildlife habitat, and movie sets. Contact them here.

Cactus at Red Rock Ranch

A visitor enjoys photographing a cactus at Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch. For more information on Red Rock Ranch, click here.

Take in a Mountain Vista

Visitors to Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch stop along a driving tour for some light hiking and incredible views!

For more information about Van Horn and Red Rock Ranch, click here and here.

Moonrise near Red Rock Ranch

Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch invites visitors for driving tours, and hiking and rock art tours.

Now there's a new Red Rock Ranch Visitor Center on Broadway, Van Horn's main street.

Photo Op

A group enjoying Red Rock Ranch near Van Horn.

Rock Art

Ancient rock art is visible in many places throughout the region, including Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Red Rock Ranch, and here at Hueco Tanks State Historic Site.

Adventurous rock climbers also know Hueco Tanks as a world-class bouldering site. To allow a balance between preserving the small park's precious history, and allowing climbers to enjoy the boulders, visitation at the park is limited.

Visitors are welcomed, it is strongly suggested you make reservations for a rock art, hiking, birding or bouldering tour prior to arriving in the area, but it is worth it!